Vistara airline gets Dubai sales office

Dubai: On Tuesday, India’s new private full service carrier Vistara opened its first overseas sales office in Dubai in order to cater to customers in the Gulf region. This was especially done keeping in mind the huge Indian diaspora.

Sharaf Travels LLC was appointed as the their general sales agent (GSA) by The Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines joint venture (51:49 percent) in the region spanning the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

“With Sharaf Travels’ strong presence in these markets, residents and tourists in the Gulf region will have direct access to our services along with information on its growing network in India,” Vistara chief commercial officer Giam Ming Toh said in a statement here.

Services from Bhubaneswar will commence from October 1, Varanasi services from October 21, while the frequency between Delhi and Mumbai will be increased from November 1.

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The airline, which was the first to introduce premium economy seats on domestic routes in India, at present, operates a brand new 150-seater aircraft —the Airbus A320-200— with 16 business class, 36 premium economy and 96 economy class.

“We offer 20 per cent more leg space and comfort to our customers compared to the same aircraft model of other airlines,” the airline said in a statement.

Since its launch in January, Vistara has flown six lakh passengers across its network and has efficiently maintained about 90 percent on-time performance.

Few days back in an Instagram Live video, Dangal movie fame Zaira Wasim broke down several times and said she was being molested on an Air Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai when a co-passenger sitting behind her put up his feet on her armrest.

The Civil Aviation Ministry and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have sought details from Air Vistara when Zaira Wasim accused a co-passenger for molestation during Delhi-Mumbai Vistara flight. Following the incident on 9 December, accused Vikram Sachdeva was arrested.

The sources said the airline has submitted its final investigation report into the incident to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday.

Vikram Sachdeva’s wife, Divya Sachdeva, came out in defense of her husband and responded to the allegations leveled against him.

“We as a family are completely shattered. My father is an ex-army officer and my husband is an income tax officer’s son. We respect women. She (Zaira) is making an allegation for publicity to get the limelight. He had gone for the condolence prayer of his real mama. He was in trauma and shock. He was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. Every time women needn’t be right. Men can be innocent too,” said Divya, according to a report.

Divya said that her husband was “innocent” and that he did not have any “intention to molest”, according to a tweet by ANI.

Sachdeva also told the police that his foot touched the actor by mistake and he immediately apologised to her after she raised an alarm.

The accused passenger as per flight attendants was sleeping throughout the journey. Co passengers also affirmed that the accused is innocent.

In a statement to Sahar Police, a conpassenger and witness, who did not personally know Vikram Sachdeva, said that he “did not see” Sachdeva misbehaving with the actress.

“I saw Sachdeva doze off immediately after he settled in his seat after boarding the flight at Delhi. His fault was he kept his legs on the armrest, which was wrong. I did not see him misbehaving. He also apologized when the actor shouted at him when the flight landed at Mumbai airport and the matter was settled then,” he was quoted as saying.

Such statements by co-passengers and crew members raise serious question regarding accusations made by Zaira Wasim. If the allegations are false then it is cheapest form of publicity stunt. But we must wait till police comes up with final report after investigation.

With the shimmering lights of the Burj Khalifa and the famous Pam Jumeriah Island Dubai has been lately attracting a lot of people around the world. Not only these but also a number of extreme sports in Dubai is creating as sensation of chill and thrill among the people. Dubai has never failed to win over many hearts through its mesmerizing architectural buildings which gets lit as the sun sets by. A land with the towering skyscrapers, warm seas and endless deserts you will never have enough of this place.

Dubai offers you a list of various adventure sports to bring out the fears within you. So bring out the daredevil in you as you try some of the most satisfying activities in Dubai. Each location in Dubai has something special for you. Feel the thrill and pump up the adrenaline as you try out the exhilarating dune bashing. Try bungee jumping from the highest feet like you have never imagined before. This time make your summer the most exciting and memorable one with these amazing activities.

Here are 5 adventure sports that will give you an adrenaline rush to your spines.

Skydiving

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Dubai has been one of the best destination place not only for me but for everyone for adventure sports. Skydiving in Dubai is famous as it covers the beautiful Dubai skyline as you dive through the sky. It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush. This activity can be done all year round. Feel the thrill of the wind speeding through your entire body. With all the necessary training and safety instructions given by a qualified and professional instructor before you take your flight, and with all the equipment provided this experience leaves you breathless but smiling from ear to ear. Skydive Dubai is located near the luxurious man-made island, The Palm Jumeirah, and the Dubai Marina.

Sea Kayaking

Time Out Dubai

With access to relatively gentle waters all year round, kayaking is a burgeoning sport that’s captured the imagination of the UAE’s fun-seekers. With regularly organized trips, great scenic spots and no lack of fellow enthusiasts, kayaking can get you into shape in a fun and friendly way. There are essentially three kinds of kayaks; the closed deck, the ‘sit-on-top’ and the inflatable. The sport uses a lot of upper body muscles, so it’s great for anyone looking to gain strength in that area. Single capacity kayaks range from around Dhs2,500 to Dhs4,000.

Bungee Jumping

Emirates 24|7

When in Dubai, bungee jumping is one of adventure sport activity you cannot miss out on. You can try out your adventure skills in several locations in Dubai and some of them are at the Gravity Zone, it specializes in adventure activities like this. Bungee jumps are also popular in Dubai Kartdrome in Motor City. The place has attracted for 500 jumpers since its inception in 2012. You can experience a jump of over 50 meters and you need to ensure you are not above 120 kg for this activity. Bungee Jumping is located at Gravity Zone and Motor City. Single jump can be availed at 339 AED and a Tandem Jump will be priced at 499 AED depending on the location of the activity.

Scuba Diving

Dubai City Info

Scuba diving in Dubai gives you the opportunity to explore the underwater life of the sea animals in the Arabian Gulf. Rich in bio-diversity, it is a home to several species of fishes and is a paradise for underwater photographers. Several hotels, as well as tour agencies, have scuba diving packages for scuba diving novices and professionals too. Explore the lagoon’s stunning underwater world, home to 65,000 marine habitats. A view where you get to see live rays, sharks, and shoals of exotic fish as you drift around the phony ruins. As Dubai has no natural diving location, the Gulf is the only diving location used by many companies and schools. Approximate price for scuba diving ranges from 150 AED to 200 AED depending on the level applied for from advanced to beginners.

Zip Lining

Time Out Dubai

Dubai has the world record in the longest zip lining activity. It is 1800 feet above the Dubai fountains, which takes 40 seconds to complete a zip line, at a speed of 60-70kmph. You must be at least 10 years of age and 130cm tall if you want to take part in it. It starts from Emaar Boulevard, a 90-metre long residential building and ends on the top of the Dubai Mall. You come across various iconic structures and breathtaking views of the city as you fly by.

Jai Sears from Grenada, Caribbean has written a letter to editor in response to complaints against the statue of Gandhi in Grenada. Here is the text:

I write in response to a letter on Mahatma Gandhi entitled “Dustbin of history” written by Josiah Rougier and published in the Grenada newspaper, The New Today (Nov 3, 2017). In his letter, Rougier is asking the Government to remove the bust-statue of Gandhi which overlooks Sauteurs Bay in Grenada where East Indians arrived 160 years ago. Rougier’s opinion is based on the false notion that Gandhi was racist because the Mahatma reportedly considered Indians to be superior to black Africans when he referred to the latter as “kaffirs.”

Gandhi was only 27 years old when he made that contextual statement. If Rougier had done his research, he would have found that Nelson Mandela said: “Gandhi must be forgiven for these prejudices in the context of the time and the circumstances.” The quote can be found in “Gandhi the Prisoner” by Nelson Mandela published in 1995. Gandhi was a man; he was not god. And even god made mistakes.

Photo of Jai Sears

Rougier must instead focus on the Gandhi’s vision of non-violent protest and his belief in satyagraha which inspired rebels and revolutionaries around the world. Gandhi’s ideas influenced leaders of the African National Congress and the struggle by Indians and blacks against white apartheid rule in South Africa. From as early as 1956 when he was 27 years old, Martin Luther King, Jr. referred to Gandhi as “the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change.”

Following the success of his boycott, King contemplated traveling to India to deepen his understanding of Gandhian principles. The fact is that Gandhi saw people of all races, castes, colours and creeds as equal which led to his assassination by a Hindu fanatic in 1948. So who is this unknown Josiah Rougier? Is he as illustrious as the great Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King? And is he disagreeing with his possible heroes?